CORRECTED-Venezuela warns airlines not to cut flights amid debt woes

CARACAS, March 14 (Reuters) - President Nicolas Maduro on
Friday warned airlines not to limit flights in and out of
Venezuela, a day after reports a Colombian airline was reducing
services to Caracas amid industry complaints of billions of
dollars in unpaid debts.

"Airlines have no excuse to reduce their flights to
Venezuela," Maduro said during a press conference.

"If airlines reduce (flights), I will take severe measures."

Airlines have struggled to obtain dollars in exchange for
the bolivar currency as a result of long-running delays in
Venezuela's 11-year-old currency control system.

The International Air Transport Association this week said
that airlines are owed $3.7 billion and that some are
considering halting service to Venezuela.

"If an airline leaves the country, it's not coming back
while we are in government," Maduro said, casting the airlines'
complaints as part of a wider "economic war" against his
socialist government by political foes and businesses.

Maduro also said, however, that his government would pay
debts to the airline industry.
Continuación...